Synthetic luciferase gene and protein

ABSTRACT

A codon optimized and stabilized luciferase gene and a novel recombinant DNA characterized by incorporating this new gene coding for a novel luciferase into a vector DNA for improved activities in mammalian cells, are disclosed. This new luciferase exhibits long-wavelength light emission, as well as improved thermostability and higher expression levels in mammalian cell systems, compared to native luciferase. Assays using this new enzyme for measuring various biological metabolic functions are described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel codon optimized and stabilized luciferase gene (COS luciferase) and protein and uses thereof. The invention further relates to production of a stabilized luciferase protein using such a COS gene and methods of analysis of cells using the luciferase gene and protein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bioluminescence in certain organisms via the reaction of luciferin and luciferase is well known in the art. The use of the luciferase enzyme has become highly valuable as a genetic marker gene due to the convenience, sensitivity and linear range of the luminescence assay. Luciferase has been used in many experimental biological systems in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell culture, transgenic plants and animals, as well as cell-free expression systems.

For example, Japanese Firefly Luciola cruciata luciferase expression can be monitored as a genetic marker in cell extracts when mixed with substrates (D-luciferin, Mg²⁺ ATP, and O₂), and the resulting luminescence measured using a luminescent detection device (containing a photomultiplier system or equivalent) such as luminometers or scintillation counters without the need of a reagent injection device. The Luciola cruciata luciferase activity can also be detected in living cells by adding D-luciferin or more membrane permeant analogs such as D-luciferin ethyl ester to the growth medium. This in vivo luminescence relies on the ability of D-luciferin or more membrane permeant analogs to diffuse through cellular and intracellular organelle membranes and on the intracellular availability of ATP and O₂ in these cells.

Despite its utility as a reporter, current luciferases isolated from various organisms, including insects and marine organisms are not necessarily optimized for expression or production in systems that are of most interest to the medical community and experimental molecular biologists. Accordingly, a need exists for a luciferase nucleic acid molecule that allows improved protein production in mammalian cells and tissues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a novel codon optimized and stabilized luciferase gene coding for an improved luciferase protein. This new luciferase exhibits long-wavelength light emission, as well as improved thermostability and higher expression levels in mammalian cell systems, compared to native luciferase. Also described is a method of producing a stabilized luciferase protein by inserting a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention into an appropriate microorganism via a vector and culturing the microorganism to produce the stabilized luciferase protein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cleavage map of recombinant plasmid pDC57 DNA with endonuclease restriction enzymes.

FIG. 2 shows a cleavage map of recombinant plasmid pDC99 DNA with endonuclease restriction enzymes.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of the native L. cruciata luciferase sequence with the codon optimized nucleotide sequence of the present invention.

FIG. 4. shows a comparison of Luciferase Expression Levels using the pDC99 vector of the present invention with the Photinus pyrahs luciferase vector pSV40-GL3 in mammalian cells.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison of the thermal stability of the COS Luciola cruciata luciferase protein of the present invention with that of the Photinus pyralis wild type protein.

FIG. 6 shows use of the expressed codon-optimized luciferase protein to quantitatively measure ATP concentration.

FIG. 7 shows the use of the expressed codon-optimized luciferase protein to quantitatively measure the number of cells present in cell culture samples.

FIG. 8 shows the use of the expressed codon-optimized luciferase protein to measure cell viability.

FIG. 9 shows the utility of the expressed codon-optimized luciferase protein for measuring cell cytotoxicity upon candidate drug treatment.

FIG. 10 shows that the expressed codon-optimized luciferase protein can be used to measure a second enzyme in a coupled assay format.

FIG. 11 shows the use of COS recombinant luciferase protein to quantitatively measure the number of cells present in culture samples directly in a one-step assay format.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The wild-type sequence is known for the luciferase molecule from many different species and numerous modifications to those sequences have been described in the art. The present invention describes a synthetic codon-optimized nucleic acid molecule and protein. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the synthetic luciferase nucleic acid molecule encodes an improved luciferase enzyme which demonstrates greater thermostability (see FIG. 5) as well as a wavelength shift from green to red compared to native luciferase.

In another embodiment of the present invention, mRNA transcribed from the synthetic luciferase nucleic acid molecule is more stable in mammalian cells. This leads to enhanced levels of mRNA and results in greater expression of the luciferase (see FIG. 4). In another embodiment, the level of mRNA is preferably increased by 10% to 200% over that seen when a native sequence is expressed in mammalian cells.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the synthetic luciferase nucleic acid molecule is altered to remove RNAse cleavage motifs. The wild-type sequence for L. cruciata shown in SEQ ID NO:1 has RNAse cleavage motifs at nucleotides 384-388, 682-686, and 929-933. In a preferred embodiment, the synthetic sequence is changed as shown in SEQ ID NO:3 and FIG. 3 to remove these motifs. In particular, nucleotides 384 to 388 are changed from (ATTTA) to GTTCA, nucleotides 682 to 686 are changed from (ATTTA) to ATCTA and nucleotides 929 to 933 are changed from ATTTA) to ACCTG.

Vectors such as retroviral vectors or other vectors intended for the introduction of recombinant DNA into mammalian cells will often contain active splice donor sequences. Instability is often created when a wild type gene from a non-mammal is carried by a retroviral vector due to the recognition of cryptic splice acceptor sequences in the wild type gene and splicing between these and splice donor sites present in the vector. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, cryptic splice acceptor sequences present in wild type luciferase nucleic acid molecules are altered or removed.

In another particular embodiment of the present invention, cryptic splice acceptor sites found at bases 448 to 463, 919 to 934, 924 to 939, 940 to 955, 1148 to 1163, 1156 to 1171, 1159 to 1174, and 1171 to 1186 of the wild type sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 have one or more nucleotides altered.

In a particular embodiment, bases 448 to 463 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. ACCATTGTTATACTAG, herein SEQ ID NO:5 are changed in the COS luciferase to ACCATCGTGATCCTGG herein SEQ ID NO:6.

In another embodiment, bases 919 to 934 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. GATTTGTCAAATTTAG herein SEQ ID NO:7 are changed in the COS luciferase to GACCTGAGCAACCTGG herein SEQ ID NO:8.

In another embodiment, bases 924 to 939 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. GTCAAATTTAGTTGAG herein SEQ ID NO:9 are changed in the COS luciferase to GAGCAACCTGGTGGAG herein SEQ ID NO:10.

In another embodiment, bases 940 to 955 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. ATTGCATCTGGCGGAG herein SEQ ID NO:11 are changed in the COS luciferase to ATCGCCAGCGGCGGAG herein SEQ ID NO:12.

In another embodiment, bases 1148 to 1163 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. CTTTAGGTCCTAACAG herein SEQ ID NO:13 are changed in the COS luciferase to GCCATCATCATCACC herein SEQ ID NO:14.

In another embodiment, bases 1156 to 1171 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. CCTAACAGACGTGGAG herein SEQ ID NO:15 are changed in the COS luciferase to ATCACCCCCGAGGGCG herein SEQ ID NO:16.

In another embodiment, bases 1159 to 1174 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. AACAGACGTGGAGAAG herein SEQ ID NO:17 are changed in the COS luciferase to AACAGACGGGGCGAAG herein SEQ ID NO:18.

In another embodiment, bases 1171 to 1186 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, i.e. GAAGTTTGTGTTAAAG herein SEQ ID NO:19 are changed in the COS luciferase to CGACGACAAGCCTGGA herein SEQ ID NO:20.

In a particular embodiment, the corresponding branch point sequences for the above cryptic splice sites in the wild type L. cruciata luciferase SEQ ID NO:1, are also altered to further suppress the splicing potential.

Palindromic sequences tend to have an adverse effect on translational efficiency and/or mRNA stability. The degree of these effects are generally directly related to the stability of the loop structures formed by these palindromic motifs. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention includes reducing the number of palindromic motifs. In a particular embodiment, palindromic motifs are altered by one or more nucleotides without altering the encoded luciferase enzyme activity and preferably without altering the amino acid sequence.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 1087 to 1095 and 1218 to 1226 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. GCTTCTGGA and TCCAGAAGC, respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to GCCAGCGGC and CCCCGAGGC, respectively.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 1151 to 1158 and 1185 to 1192 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. TAGGTCCT and AGGACCTA, respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to TGGGCCCC and GGGCCCCA, respectively.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 255 to 264 and 350 to 359 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. AAACTGTGAA and TTCACAGTTT, herein SEQ ID NO: 21 and SEQ ID NO:22 respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to GAACTGCGAG and TGCACAGCCT herein SEQ ID NO:23 and SEQ ID NO:24, respectively.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 1381 to 1389 and 1508 to 1516 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. TTGCAACAT and ATGTTGCAA, respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to CTGCAGCAC and ACGTCGCCA, respectively.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 235 to 242 and 883 to 890 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. AGAATTGC and GCAATTCT, respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to CGGATCGC and GCCATCCT, respectively.

In a particular embodiment, a palindromic pair of motifs at bases 445 to 452 and 740 to 747 of the wild type L. cruciata luciferase, ie. AAAACCAT and ATGGTTTT, respectively are changed in the COS luciferase to AAGACCAT and ACGGCTTC, respectively.

The wild type Luciola cruciata sequence incorporates several negatively cis-acting motifs that hamper expression in mammals. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the COS sequence contains no negative cis-acting sites (such as splice sites, poly(A) signals, etc.) which would negatively influence expression in mammalian cells.

The wild type Luciola cruciata sequence has a GC content that is quite low compared to mammalian sequences, which facilitates quick mRNA turnover. In another embodiment, the GC-content of the COS luciferase sequence is increased from about 37% to about 62%, prolonging mRNA half-life. Codon usage was adapted to the bias of Homo sapiens resulting in a high CAI (codon adaptation index) value of 0.97, in comparison to 0.62 for the wild-type sequence. Accordingly, the optimized gene provides high and stable expression rates in Homo sapiens or other mammalian cell types.

The codon usage alterations generally lead to an increase in the translation efficiency of the messenger RNA in a mammalian cell. It is a feature of the present invention that mRNA transcribed from the COS luciferase gene is more stably present in mammalian cells. This leads to enhanced levels of mRNA and results in greater expression of the luciferase protein. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the level of mRNA is increased by 10% to 200% compared to expression of a native luciferase gene in the same cell. The codon optimization modifications are preferably incorporated such that resulting modified enzyme activity is not altered and most preferably that the amino acid sequence is not altered, except for desired changes described herein.

Many organisms display a bias for use of particular codons to code for addition of a specific amino acid in a growing peptide chain. Codon biases for differences in codon usage between organisms often correlate with the efficiency of translation of messenger RNA (mRNA), which in turn is believed to result from the properties of the codons being translated and the availability of particular transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules to be used in translation of the mRNA into protein. The predominance of selected tRNAs in a cell is generally a reflection of the codons used most frequently in peptide synthesis.

Codon usage in highly expressed mammalian genes are as follows:

[Amino Acid Codon Fraction] Gly GGG 0.15 Gly GGA 0.18 Gly GGT 0.21 Gly GGC 0.46 Glu GAG 0.68 Glu GAA 0.32 Asp GAT 0.38 Asp GAC 0.62 Val GTG 0.54 Val GTA 0.08 Val GTT 0.14 Val GTC 0.25 Ala GCG 0.14 Ala GCA 0.13 Ala GCT 0.29 Ala GCC 0.44 Arg AGG 0.14 Arg AGA 0.13 Ser AGT 0.10 Ser AGC 0.25 Lys AAG 0.75 Lys AAA 0.25 Asn AAT 0.26 Asn AAC 0.74 Met ATG 1.00 Ile ATA 0.06 Ile ATT 0.26 Ile ATC 0.67 Thr ACG 0.09 Thr ACA 0.18 Thr ACT 0.23 Thr ACC 0.50 Trp TGG 1.00 End TGA 0.30 Cys TGT 0.46 Cys TGC 0.54 End TAG 0.16 End TAA 0.53 Tyr TAT 0.35 Tyr TAC 0.65 Leu TTG 0.10 Leu TTA 0.03 Phe TTT 0.35 Phe TTC 0.65 Ser TCG 0.07 Ser TCA 0.08 Ser TCT 0.20 Ser TCC 0.31 Arg CGG 0.11 Arg CGA 0.05 Arg CGT 0.17 Arg CGC 0.40 Gln CAG 0.82 Gln CAA 0.18 His CAT 0.35 His CAC 0.65 Leu CTG 0.56 Leu CTA 0.05 Leu CTT 0.08 Leu CTC 0.18 Pro CCG 0.16 Pro CCA 0.19 Pro CCT 0.30 Pro CCC 0.35 The codon bias in the Gene is different to the highly expressed mammalian genes. Of the codons that potentially encode a particular amino some are very rarely used.

By the standard set forth in the preceding paragraph, the wild type Luciola cruciata sequence uses codons rarely used in mammalian systems with a high frequency. To have the most impact the most rarely used codons in highly expressed mammalian genes are preferably changed. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least about 90% of the rarely used codons found in the wild type sequence are altered to more preferred codons for the corresponding amino acid.

For example, the codon TTA is used to encode leucine in only 3% of cases in highly expressed mammalian systems, but is seen in the wild type luciferase of SEQ ID NO:1 at positions 87-89, 246-248, 339-341, 360-362, 405-407, 720-722, 774-776, 801-803, 828-830, 906-908, 933-935, 963-965, 1032-1034, 1152-1154, 1329-1331, 1368-1370, and 1542-1544. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of these positions is changed to CTG, which is more commonly used in mammalian systems, thus optimizing the nucleic acid sequence for expression in mammals without changing the amino acid sequence. A preferred altered Luciola cruciata Luciferase gene is one where at least about 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or 100% of codons are thus optimized for expression in a particular cell system.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is the codon optimized and stabilized (COS) Luciferase set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 and variants thereof. As such, preferred COS luciferase nucleic acid molecules include those having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 80%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO:3 and which exhibit the functional characteristics of COS proteins, including increased thermostability and shifting of the emitted light from green to red (from 560 nm to 619 nm (pH 6)). DNA sequence analysis can be performed using the NCBI BLAST (National Center for Biotechnology Information Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) comparison program available from the United States National Institutes of Health, preferably using default stringency parameters.

In another embodiment of the present invention, it is anticipated that conservative amino acid substitutions might be made throughout the enzyme without adversely altering the enzyme activity. One or more amino acid residues within the sequence can be substituted by another amino acid of a similar polarity, which acts as a functional equivalent, resulting in a silent alteration.

Substitutes for an amino acid within the sequence may be selected from other members of the class to which the amino acid belongs. For example, the nonpolar (hydrophobic) amino acids include alanine, leucine, isoleucine, valine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine. Amino acids containing aromatic ring structures are phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. The polar neutral amino acids include glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, and glutamine. The positively charged (basic) amino acids include arginine, lysine and histidine. The negatively charged (acidic) amino acids include aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

Particularly conservative amino acid substitutions are: (a) Lys for Arg or vice versa such that a positive charge may be maintained; (b) Glu for Asp or vice versa such that a negative charge may be maintained; (c) Ser for Thr or vice versa such that a free OH can be maintained; (d) Gln for Asn or vice versa such that a free NH₂ can be maintained; (e) Ile for Leu or for Val or vice versa as roughly equivalent hydrophobic amino acids; and (f) Phe for Tyr or vice versa as roughly equivalent aromatic amino acids. However it will be understood that less conservative substitutions may still be made without affecting the activity of the resulting luciferase enzyme.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the amino acid encoded at nucleotide position 875-877 in the wild-type sequence, SEQ ID NO:1 is changed from Ser(S) to Tyr(Y). This nucleic position corresponds with position 286 of the wild-type protein sequence, SEQ ID NO:2. This modification was found to have the surprising effect of making the resulting protein >100-fold more stable after 1 hour and >1000-fold more stable after 2 hours at 37° C. The COS luciferase also demonstrated greater thermostability than wild-type protein at room temperature. The substitution of Tyr for Ser at this position was also shown to have the surprising effect of shifting the emitted light from green to red (from 560 nm to 619 nm (pH 6)). The present invention also anticipates similar conservative amino acid substitutions at nucleotide position 875-877, including substituting Tyr, Lys, Leu, or Gln for Ser. These substitutions provide for a novel luciferase that can be useful in multiplexed assays along with a green emitting luciferase to monitor multiple activities. They also have significant application to tissue and in vivo analytical techniques, since mammalian tissues become more transparent at longer wavelengths (near and above about 620 nm).

Preferred COS luciferase proteins of the present invention include proteins comprising amino acid sequences that are at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably about 95%, identical to amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4 and which exhibit the functional characteristics of COS proteins, including increased thermostability and shifting of the emitted light from green to red (from 560 nm to 619 nm (pH 6)). Amino acid sequence analysis can be performed using the NCBI BLAST (National Center for Biotechnology Information Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) comparison program available from the United States National Institutes of Health, preferably using default stringency parameters.

Additional preferred COS luciferase proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO:3 or variants thereof. As such, preferred COS luciferase proteins include those encoded by nucleic acid molecules having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 80%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO:3 and which exhibit the functional characteristics of COS proteins as described herein. DNA sequence analysis can be performed using NCBI BLAST (National Center for Biotechnology Information Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) comparison program available from the United States National Institutes of Health, preferably using default stringency parameters.

It will be understood that the invention also encompasses a method of using the COS luciferase gene as a marker gene in live cells, wherein the nucleic acid molecules encoding the COS luciferase gene are provided in an expression vector with appropriate cis- and trans-acting expression elements and thereby provide cells expressing the COS luciferase gene that produce the modified enzyme intracellularly.

The COS luciferase of the present invention might be incorporated as part of a fusion protein. Additionally the invention encompasses a cloning vehicle having a sequence encoding the COS luciferase gene.

The luciferase gene will typically be positioned operably linked to a promoter. Preferably the promoter is a mammalian promoter, and may be selected from one of the many known mammalian promoters. In the context of this invention the term luciferase gene refers to the open reading frame encoding the COS luciferase protein.

The levels of expression of the luciferase gene will be proportional to the activity of the promoter used in the expression vector. The present invention describes methods of measuring promoter activity based upon the levels of luciferase protein produced by specific luciferase gene—promoter constructs.

Additionally other nucleotide motifs might be introduced to enhance transcription and/or translation such as a Kozak consensus sequence or transcriptional enhancers or transcription factors.

The present invention describes methods for analysis of transcriptional enhancer or transcription factor levels in a cell sample by measurement of luciferase protein production in a cell line that has been transfected with a specific luciferase gene—promoter construct.

The present invention describes a plasmid vector for expression in mammalian cells, a bacterial vector for expression in plant cells, but also contemplates a retroviral vector or a lentiviral vector, that includes the COS luciferase gene, or a cell carrying the COS luciferase gene.

The present invention also describes methods for isolating the recombinant luciferase protein comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4 from E. coli bacterial culture. It is understood that the protein may be expressed in and purified from other cell types, including but not limited to mammalian cells, plant cells, yeast, fungi or in other bacterial cell types. These methods of overproduction of the purified or partially purified protein useful for analytical assays of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

The present invention also describes methods for use of the recombinant luciferase protein in analytical assays. Natural and recombinant luciferase enzymes have been utilized as a method of detecting minute concentrations of ATP using the luciferin-luciferase assay. As low as 10⁻¹⁶ moles of ATP has been detected with the enzyme from Photinus pyralis. And the luciferase reaction is highly specific for ATP. Other nucleoside triphosphates or ATP analogs are not usable substrates for the enzyme. The luciferin-luciferase assay conditions include D-luciferin, molecular oxygen, magnesium ion, the cofactor coenzyme A, dithiothreitol, bovine serum albumin in a buffer, typically 50 mM tricine or 25 mM glycylglycine, at pH 7.8. A commercially available kit containing both the reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A.) as well as a cell lysis buffer for use in cell assays (25 mM Tris-phosphate (pH 7.8) containing 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT.) can be used for this purpose.

The ability to measure the concentration of ATP present in samples has allowed the luciferin-luciferase assay to become a widely used biochemical reporter for cell metabolic activity or for the specific activity of a variety of other enzymes. In general, the increase or decrease in ATP concentration has been well documented for use as a sensitive measure of enzyme activity for kinases, phosphotransferases, phosphatases, in immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent (ELISA) assays, in cell viability assays where total ATP present in a cell sample is measured, in cytotoxicity assays wherein the levels of ATP produced by a cell sample is either increased or decreased with the addition of a chemical agent or to simply measure the number of cells present in a cell sample by measurement of total ATP.

Methods for detecting ATP in a sample are known in the art and may contain other components such as NAF, one or more cell lysing agents such as Triton X-100, glycerol, TCA, DMSA, CTAB, or ethanol and one or more enzyme stabilizing agents such as bovine serum albumin, gelatin, glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and a detergent. Examples of these assays are given below.

The present invention also includes measuring the levels of a second enzyme using the COS recombinant luciferase protein by use of alternate luciferin-based analogs. In this manner, the luciferin-luciferase assay has been used for measurement of protease, peptidase, phosphatase, sulfatase, dealkylase and glycosidase enzymes. Assay methods have been demonstrated and are well known to one skilled in the art. Amino acid, peptide or protein conjugates of 6-amino-D-luciferin at either the 6-amino position (for amino-peptidases) or at the 4-carboxy position (for carboxypeptidases) have been prepared and utilized in peptidase or protease assays.

The substrate D-Luciferin 6-O-phosphate is a sensitive substrate for coupled analysis of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and protein phosphatases. Upon phosphatase activity, D-luciferin is produced whose levels are detected using the luciferin-luciferase assay. The levels of phophatase activity can therefore be related to light output, when excess luciferase is present in the luciferin-luciferase assay. In a similar manner, D-luciferin-6-O-sulfate has been used to monitor the levels of arylsulfatase.

The substrate D-Luciferin-6-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (D-Luciferin-6-O-β-D-galactoside) is a sensitive substrate for detection of beta-galactosidase enzyme activity. This analog of D-Luciferin contains a β-galactoside attached at the 6-O-position, and thus is not a substrate for the firefly luciferase enzyme until the galactose is removed by β-galactosidase activity. As such it represents an ultrasensitive substrate for chemiluminescent measurement of galactosidase activity in homogeneous assays, or in cell lysate samples when excess luciferase is present in the luciferin-luciferase assay. The levels of β-galactosidase activity can therefore be related to light output, when excess luciferase is present in the luciferin-luciferase assay. Similar conjugation of other sugars or oligosaccharides at the 6-O-position of D-luciferin can be used to measure the levels of other specific glycosidase enzymes.

Cytochrome P450 assays employ a 6-O-methyl or 6-O-benzyl ether analog of D-luciferin as substrate. Upon cytochrome P450 activity, these 6-O-ether substituents are removed from the substrate, allowing the free D-luciferin to act in turn as a substrate for the luciferin-luciferase assay. The levels of CP450 are therefore related to the light output, when excess luciferase is present in the luciferin-luciferase assay.

Finally monoamine oxidase assays employ a derivative of beetle luciferin ((4S)-4,5-dihydro-2-(6-hydroxybenzothiazolyl)-4-thiazolecarboxylic acid). Monoamine oxidase activity converts this luciferin derivative to luciferin methyl ester, which is quickly converted to D-luciferin by intracellular esterases, or by added esterase to homogeneous assays. The levels of monoamine oxidase are therefore related to the light output, when excess luciferase is present in the luciferin-luciferase assay.

In addition, using an antibody-linked enzyme for analysis of these enzymes can be employed to detect specific ligands, epitopes or structures in biological samples by coupling the linked enzyme activity with the luciferin-luciferase assay in the aforementioned luciferase protein coupled assay. Examples of these coupled assays are given below. Other coupled assays or methods will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

The examples below are given so as to illustrate the practice of this invention. They are not intended to limit or define the entire scope of this invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthetic Construction of the COS Luciferase Gene

The synthetic COS luciferase gene, SEQ ID NO:3, was assembled from synthetic oligonucleotides and/or PCR products. The fragment was cloned into pMK (kanR) using KpnI and SacI restriction sites. The plasmid DNA was purified (Pure Yield™ Plasmid Midiprep, Promega) from transformed bacteria and concentration determined by UV spectroscopy. The final construct was verified by sequencing. The sequence congruence within the used restriction sites was 100%.

Example 2 Subcloning of the COS Luciferase Gene into the pCMV and pSV40 Vectors

The synthetic COS luciferase assembled in Example 1 was excised from pMK cloning vector using flanking XhoI and NotI restriction enzymes (Fast Digest, Fermentas). The excised fragment was gel-purified (GenElute Gel Extraction Kit, Sigma) and quantitated using MassRuler™ DNA Ladder Mix (Fermentas). The excised gene was subcloned into both pCMV and pSV40 Mammalian Expression Vectors using corresponding XhoI and NotI restriction sites. The completed pCMV construct was named pDC57. The completed pSV40 construct was named pDC99.

Example 3 Subcloning of the COS Luciferase Gene into the pNosdc Binary Vector for Expression in Plants

The synthetic COS luciferase assembled in Example 1 was amplified using the Polymerase Chain reaction. Amplification was performed with primers including XmaI and SacI restriction sites. The ends of the amplified fragment were cut with XmaI and SacI restriction enzymes (New England Biolabs) and the fragment was gel-purified (GenElute Gel Extraction Kit, Sigma) and quantitated using MassRuler™ DNA Ladder Mix (Fermentas). The amplified fragment was subcloned into the pNosdc binary vector for transformation of plants via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The completed construct was named pNosdcCOS.

Example 4 Transfection of Mammalian Cells with the COS Luciferase Vectors pDC57 and pDC99

NIH 3T3 cells (murine tumor fibroblasts) were grown to 80% confluence in 100 mm tissue culture plates. Cells were transfected with either pDC57 or pDC99 using Lipofectamine and

PLUS reagents (Invitrogen).

Example 5 Analysis of Luciferase Expression Levels using the pDC99 Vector and Comparison to the Luciferase Expression Using the Photinus pyrahs luciferase Vector pSV40-GL3 in Mammalian Cells

Transfected NIH 3T3 cells prepared in Example 4 were lysed using a lysis buffer comprised of 25 mM Tris-phosphate (pH 7.8), containing 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT. Cells were washed with 1× Phosphate Buffered Saline, and lysis buffer (1 mL) was added to surface of plate. Plate was incubated for 30 mins, and lysate was collected. Additionally, NIH 3T3 cells were transfected with pSV40-GL3, a construct containing wild type luciferase from Photinus pyralis, as per the method in Example 4 and lysed using the above method. As a negative control, untransfected NIH 3T3 cells were also lysed by the above method.

Cell lysates were diluted using lysis buffer, and added in triplicate to wells of a solid white 96-well plate (Costar). Added to cell lysates was a reagent containing 1 mM D-luciferin and 2 mM ATP in a buffer comprised of 25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A.

Luminescence was recorded using a Perkin-Elmer HTS7000 Plus Bio Assay Reader (200 ms integration time). Results of these analyses are shown in FIG. 4.

Example 6 Analysis of the Thermal Stability of the COS Luciferase Protein Versus Wild Type Protein

Cell lysates from NIH 3T3 cells transfected with pDC99 and pSV40-GL3 (transfected according to method in Example 4), as well as untransfected cells were prepared as described in Example 5a. Luminescence of each sample was recorded as described in Example 5a to obtain a baseline value of enzyme activity. Portions of each sample were then incubated in water baths at 37° C., 42° C., and 55° C. A portion of each sample was also incubated at ambient room temperature (25° C.). At 1 hour and 2 hour intervals, aliquots of each temperature-incubation were removed and assayed for activity using the method described in Example 5a. Results of these analyses are shown in FIG. 5.

Example 7 Isolation of the COS Luciferase Protein from Bacterial Culture

An expression vector containing the codon optimized and stabilized luciferase gene (COS) was constructed by inserting a XhoI/BamHI fragment from M1395 or similar plasmid into Histidine tag expression vector pET-His (modified from pET-3a, ATCC #87036). Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS harboring this expression vector was grown to an OD600 of 0.6 by incubation at 37° C. with vigorous shaking in 500 mL LB Broth containing the appropriate selection antibiotic (ampicillin 100 μg/ml and chloramphenicol 35 μg/ml). Then this culture was induced for expression with 0.4 mM IPTG at 16° C. overnight. Bacterial cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 5,000×g, and the pellet resuspended in a bacterial cell lysis buffer containing 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.8), 100 mM NaCl, 10% glycerol, 1% TritonX-100 supplemented with freshly added 1 mM DTT, 0.25 mM AEBSF and 5 μg/ml aprotinin. The suspension was sonicated four times for 1 minute and centrifuged at 15,000 g to retrieve a Triton soluble fraction. This Triton soluble supernatant was adjusted to contain 300 mM NaCl and 10 mM imidazole and then applied onto Ni sepharose column pre-equilibrated with binding buffer containing 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.8), 300 mM NaCl and 10 mM imidazole. The column was washed with binding buffer and eluted with a buffered solution containing 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.8), 300 mM NaCl and 250 mM imidazole. Each of the eluted fractions were assayed for luciferase activity and applied to SDS-PAGE to assess the purity. The elutes that contain active luciferase were pooled and dialyzed against 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.8), 150 mM NaCl and 0.5 mM EDTA.

Luciferase activity assay was performed in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A) followed by addition of a reagent containing 1 mM D-luciferin and 2 mM ATP to start the reaction. Luminescence was recorded after 5 minutes using a BioTek Synergy Mx microplate reader with gain setting of 135.

Example 8 Transfection of Plants with Codon Optimized and Stabilized Luciferase (COS)

Agrobacterium tumefaciens are transfected with pdcNosCOS according to freeze-thaw protocol previously described (D. Weigel, J. Glazerbrook, pp. 125-126 (2002)). Arabidopsis thaliana (strain CS-20) are transfected by the floral dip method using the aforementioned transfected Agrobacterium, using the protocol described previously (D. Weigel, J. Glazerbrook, pp. 129-130 (2002)). Seedlings are selected on Murashige and Skoog Agar plates containing 50 μg/mL kanamycin, as described previously (D. Weigel, J. Glazerbrook, pp. 131-132 (2002)).

Protein is extracted from plant tissue according to the following procedure: Tissue is lyophilized and ground into a fine powder in a mortar. The powder is placed in a microcentrifuge tube and suspended in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A) by vortexing. The tube is incubated at 10 mins at room temperature to solubilize proteins, followed by centrifugation at >15,000×g to pellet solid material. The supernatant is transferred to a fresh tube, and added in triplicate to wells of a solid white 96-well plate (Costar). Added to tissue extracts is a reagent containing 1 mM D-luciferin and 2 mM ATP in a buffer comprised of 25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A.

Luminescence is recorded using a Perkin-Elmer HTS7000 Plus Bio Assay Reader (200 ms integration time).

Example 9 Measurement of ATP Concentration

A titration series of ATP samples in concentrations ranging from 10 μM to 2 mM was prepared in Reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A) containing D-Luciferin (1 mM). A concentration of 1 mM D-Luciferin was kept consistent in all titrations. 50 μl of the abovementioned titration series samples were mixed with 4 μg of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in 50 μl protein stabilizing buffer and luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Representative data shown in FIG. 6 shows that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to quantitatively measure ATP concentration.

Example 10 Measurement of Cell Number

MDA-MB-231T human breast carcinoma cells were seeded ranging from 37 to 20000 cells per well into 96-well microplates and incubated overnight. The next day, plates containing the cells were washed with PBS once and lysis buffer (25 mM Tris-phosphate pH7.8, 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT) was added (60 μl per well). The cell plates were placed on ice for 30 minutes to ensure complete lysis. 50 μl of the lysate from each well was incubated with 50 μl of luciferin/luciferase mixture containing bug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Representative data in FIG. 7 shows that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to quantitatively measure the number of cells present in culture samples.

Example 11 Measurement of Cell Viability

MDA-MB-231T human breast carcinoma cells were seeded at 7000 cells per well using 100 μl RPMI1640 complete medium with 9% FCS in 96-well plate and incubated overnight. After 24 hours, a series of dilutions of doxorubicin in complete medium were prepared from 0.1 to 10 μM. 100 μl of each of these doxorubicin solution were added to triplicate wells in the cell plate, giving a final concentration of doxorubicin half of that titrated in the test wells. The cell plate was allowed to incubate at 37° C., and 5% CO₂ for additional 48 hrs. The cell plate was then observed under microscope and percentage of surviving cells was recorded by comparing to vehicle-treated wells. After microscopic evaluation, the cell plate was washed with PBS once. 60 μl of lysis buffer (25 mM Tris-phosphate pH7.8, 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT) was added per well and plate was placed on ice for 30 minutes to ensure complete cell lysis. Next, 50 μl of the lysate was mixed with equal volume of luciferin/luciferase solution which contains 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under a gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Representative data for the levels of drug cytotoxicity are shown in FIG. 8, indicating that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to measure cell viability. These data were in accord with the visual analysis of the cells obtained prior to luciferase-luciferin reaction.

Example 12 Cellular Cytotoxicity Measurments

MDA-MB-231T human breast carcinoma cells were seeded at 10000 cells per well with 100 μl complete medium in 96-well plate and incubated overnight. After 24 hours a series of dilutions of doxorubicin were prepared in complete medium from 0.1 to 10 μM. 100 μl of each doxorubicin solution were added to each well in cell plate, giving a final concentration of doxorubicin at half of the titrated amounts. The cell plates were incubated at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ incubator for additional 24 hrs. The cell plate was then observed under microscope and percentage of surviving cells was recorded by comparing to vehicle-treated wells. Afterwards, the cell plate was washed with PBS once. 60 μl of lysis buffer (25 mM Tris-phosphate pH7.8, 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT) was added per well and plate was placed on ice for 30 minutes to ensure complete cell lysis. 50 μl of the lysate was mixed with equal volume of luciferin/luciferase solution which contains 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Representative data found in FIG. 9 shows that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to measure cell cytotoxicity upon drug treatment.

Example 13 Carboxypeptidase Assay

A sample containing 750 uL Tris buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 20 mM CaCl₂, pH 8.0) and 50 uL of the substrate solution (1.0 mmol D-Luciferyl-L-Phenylalanine in H₂O) is incubated for 5 min at 25° C. and then 300 uL of various concentrations of test Carboxypeptidase A samples (20 uL samples of enzyme serial dilutions from 0-40 u/mL in 0.001 M HCl) are added. After 60 min. a 100 uL sample of these reaction solutions are removed and added to 100 uL of a luciferin-luciferase cocktail containing the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (4 ug) in 25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO₄, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A.

The levels of Carboxypeptidase A in the test samples are determined by immediately measuring the light output using a BioTek Synergy Mx microplate reader using the luminescence mode with integration for 60 sec. Integrated light emission is proportional to the Carboxypeptidase A enzyme levels of the test samples. It is possible to determine with this test an amount of Carboxypeptidase A down to 10 pg.

Example 14 Aminopeptidase Assay of Trypsin and Trypsin-like Activity

Measurement of levels of the aminopeptidase enzyme trypsin is performed using the substrate N-α-acetyl-L-arginyl-amino-luciferin, as follows. A sample containing 750 uL Tris buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 20 mM CaCl₂, pH 8.0) and 50 uL of the substrate solution (1.0 mmol N-α acetyl-L-arginyl-aminoluciferin in H₂O) is incubated for 5 min at 25° C. and then 300 uL of various concentrations of test trypsin samples (20 uL samples of enzyme serial dilutions from 0-40 u/mL in 0.001 M HCl) are added. After 20 min. a 100 uL sample of these reaction solutions are removed and added to 100 uL of a luciferin-luciferase cocktail containing the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (4 ug) in 25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO₄, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A.

The levels of trypsin in the test samples are determined by immediately measuring the light output using a BioTek Synergy Mx microplate reader using the luminescence mode with integration for 60 sec. Integrated light emission is proportional to the trypsin enzyme levels of the test samples. It is possible to determine with this test an amount of trypsin down to 10 fg. N-α-acetyl-L-lysyl-aminoluciferin may also be used as an equivalent substrate for tyrpsin determinations. This test can also be used for determining kallikrein.

Example 15 β-Galactosidase Assay

Solutions containing 0.16-100 μM of D-luciferin-6-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (MGT Product M1087,) were incubated with saturating amounts of β-galactosidase (0.05 U) in 50 μl of reaction buffer (PBS with 2 mM MgSO₄) in 96-well microplates. The reaction was allowed proceed at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then this reaction was mixed with ATP/luciferase solution (50 uL) containing 2 mM ATP and 4 μg of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 5 seconds (full spectrum emission). Representative data shown in FIG. 10 shows that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to measure a second enzyme, β-galactosidase, in a coupled assay format.

Example 16 Phosphatase Assay

Solutions containing 0.10-100 uM of D-luciferin-6-O-phosphate were incubated with saturating amounts of alkaline phosphate (0.05 U) in 50 ul of reaction buffer (PBS with 2 mM MgSO₄) in 96-well microplates. The reaction was allowed proceed at room temperature for 60 minutes. Then this reaction was mixed with ATP/luciferase solution (50 uL) containing 2 mM ATP and 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 5 seconds. The levels of light emission were proportional to alkaline phosphatase concentration in each case.

Example 17 Aryl Sulfatase Assay

Solutions containing 0.10-100 uM of D-luciferin-6-O-sulfate were incubated with saturating amounts of aryl sulfatase (0.05 U) in 50 ul of reaction buffer (PBS with 2 mM MgSO₄) in 96-well microplates. The reaction was allowed proceed at room temperature for 60 minutes. Then this reaction was mixed with ATP/luciferase solution (50 uL) containing 2 mM ATP and 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 5 seconds. The levels of light emission were proportional to aryl sulfatase concentration in each case.

Example 18 Cytochrome P450 Assay

Solutions containing 1.0-100 uM of D-luciferin-6-O-methyl ether (MGT Product M0236) were incubated with saturating amounts of cytochrome P450 enzyme (0.5 U) in 50 ul of reaction buffer (PBS with 2 mM MgSO₄) in 96-well microplates. The reaction was allowed proceed at room temperature for 90 minutes. Then this reaction was mixed with ATP/luciferase solution (50 uL) containing 2 mM ATP and 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 5 seconds. The levels of light emission were proportional to cytochrome P450 enzyme concentration in each case.

Example 19 Transcription Factor Level Analysis (Promoter Activity Assay)

An IRF-3/pDC99 (COS) luc expression vector for IRF-3, was constructed as follows. Mouse IRF-3 cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR of the total RNA from mouse embryonic fibroblasts, cloned into the pCRII (Stratagene) vector (pIRF-3), and the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was confirmed. Sense and antisense primers flanking the IRF3 gene and incorporating restrictions sites were used for RT-PCR. The cDNA was excised by NotI and XbaI digestion and cloned into the NotI and XbaI sites of pDC99 vector. The sequence of the linker DNA was confirmed by restriction digest and oligonucleotide sequencing. After transfection into NIH/3T3 cells cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 9% FCS, using LipofectAmine reagent (GibcoBRL), the cells were grown in culture for 3 days at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ atmosphere. Some plates of cells were infected with the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and allowed to continue growth overnight. The next day, plates containing both infected and control cells were washed with PBS once and lysis buffer (25 mM Tris-phosphate pH7.8, 10% glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM EGTA and 2 mM DTT) was added (60 μl per well). The cell plates were placed on ice for 30 minutes to ensure complete lysis. 50 μl of the lysate from each well was incubated with 50 μl of luciferin/luciferase mixture containing 10 ug the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek

Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Cells infected with the NDV virus exhibited increased luminescence indicating transcription factor upregulation of the luciferase gene. This assay indicated that the observed luminescence was the result of differing promoter activities in transient transfections of the cells grown in culture.

Example 20 ELISA Assay—Alkaline Phosphatase Linked Antibody Assay

Human T cells were grown to 5×10(4) cells per well in 12-well tissue culture plates, washed and contacted with mouse monoclonal antibodies to cell surface hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The cells were washed with PBS and treated with a 1/1000 dilution of an anti-mouse IgG-alkaline phosphatase conjugate. After a second wash step with PBS, a solution containing 100 uM of D-luciferin-6-O-phosphate was added and incubated in 250 ul of reaction buffer (PBS with 2 mM MgSO₄) in 96-well microplates at room temperature for 60 minutes. Then this reaction was mixed with ATP/luciferase solution (50 uL) containing 2 mM ATP and 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 5 seconds. The levels of light emission were proportional to the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in each case.

Example 21 Measurement of Kinase Enzyme Activity

Protein kinase assay buffer (40 mM Tris pH7.4, 20 mM Magnesium acetate) containing 5 μM Kemptide substrate, 1 μM ATP and 0.005-5.00 units of protein Kinase A (PKA) was incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. 50 μl of the above reaction was mixed with equal volume of luciferin/luciferase solution which contains 4 ug of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin in reaction buffer (25 mM Glycylglycine, 15 mM MgSO4, 4 mM EDTA, 15 mM Potassium phosphate pH 7.8, 1 mM DTT, and 1 mM Coenzyme A). Luminescence was immediately recorded with Biotek Synergy Mx microplate reader under gain setting of 135 and integration time of 1 second. Luminscence readings were plotted against Protein Kinase A (PKA) concentration. Unit concentrations of PKA which fall within the linear range of the curve can be utilized to assess the inhibitory or activating potential of small molecular compounds.

Example 22 One-Step Measurement of Cell Number

MDA-MB-231T human breast carcinoma cells were serially diluted 1 in 2 and seeded into a 96-well microplate at cell numbers ranging from 39 to 5000 cells per well and incubated overnight in 100 ul RPMI-1640 Medium (HyClone®-Thermo Scientific) containing 10% Fetal Calf Serum and 1% Antibiotic-Antimycotic Solution (Toku-E) (100 uL per well). The next day, a complete reaction mixture containing 50 mM Tris-phosphate pH7.8, 20% PEG-4000, 2% Triton X-100, 2 mg/ml BSA, 4 mM EGTA 50 mM Glycylglycine, 30 mM MgSO4, 2 mM Coenzyme A and 4 mM DTT 100 ug/ml of the COS recombinant luciferase protein SEQ ID NO:4 (COS) and 1 mM D-Luciferin) was added to each well (100 ul per well). The cell plates are incubated for 10 minutes. Luminescence was recorded immediately using a TECAN Infinite M200 Pro microplate reader using automatic attenuation, integration time of 1 second and settle time of 100 ms. The luminescence data obtained (FIG. 11) showed that the COS recombinant luciferase protein can be used to quantitatively measure the number of cells present in culture samples directly in a one-step assay format. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a modified version of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein: A. such modifications consist of: i. alteration of at least one palindromic sequence, ii. alteration of at least one cryptic splice acceptor site, iii. alteration of at least one cis-acting motif, iv. increasing GC content compared to native SEQ ID NO:1 by at least 10%, v. removing at least one RNAse cleavage motif, and vi. alteration of nucleotides 875-877 to encode an amino acid selected from the group consisting of Tyr, Lys, Leu and Gln. B. wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein that exhibits bioluminescence in the presence of D-luciferin at a wavelength between about 590 nm and about 620 nm.
 2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a COS luciferase protein comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO:3, wherein a protein encoded by said nucleic acid sequence exhibits bioluminescence in the presence of D-luciferin at a wavelength between about 590 nm and about 620 nm.
 3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein said molecule encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:4.
 4. A plasmid comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 2. 5. The plasmid of claim 4, wherein said plasmid contains one or more regulatory elements allowing expression in mammalian, bacterial or plant cells.
 6. The plasmid of claim 4, wherein said plasmid is selected from the group consisting of pCMV and pSV40.
 7. An isolated protein encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and a nucleic acid sequence having at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO:3, wherein a protein encoded by said nucleic acid sequence exhibits bioluminescence in the presence of D-luciferin at a wavelength between about 590 nm and about 620 nm.
 8. A method of producing the luciferase protein of claim 7 comprising: culturing, in a medium, a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia having inserted therein a nucleic acid sequence encoding said protein and collecting the luciferase protein from the culture.
 9. A method for producing the luciferase protein according to claim 8, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is inserted into a plasmid DNA vector containing a Histidine tag and expressed in bacterial cells.
 10. A method for detecting ATP in a sample comprising: a. contacting an isolated protein of claim 7 with a sample solution containing D-luciferin, one or more ATPase inhibitors and an unknown amount of ATP, and b. measuring light emitted from said sample.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of adding a known concentration of ATP to the sample.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sample solution further comprises a cell lysing agent selected from the group consisting of Triton X-100, glycerol, TCA, DMSA, CTAB, and ethanol.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the sample solution further comprises NaF.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the sample solution further comprises an enzyme stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of bovine serum albumin, gelatin, glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and a detergent.
 15. A method of measuring cell viability within a sample population of cells by detecting ATP using the method of claim 10, wherein said sample solution further comprises a cell lysing reagent and a detergent and wherein the amount of light detected is proportional to the viability of the cells within the population.
 16. A method of measuring cell proliferation within a sample population of cells by detecting ATP using the method of claim 10, wherein said sample solution further comprises a cell lysing reagent and a detergent and wherein the amount of light detected is proportional to the cell growth and proliferation of the cells within the population.
 17. A method of measuring a second enzyme within a sample by detecting ATP using the method of claim 10, wherein said D-luciferin is a luciferin analog further comprises a pendant group specific for said second enzyme wherein the amount of light detected is proportional to the second enzyme concentration of the sample.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said solution further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a cell lysing reagent, enzyme stabilizing reagent and a detergent.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said luciferin analog is selected from the group consisting of D-luciferin-6-O-β-D-glycopyranoside, D-luciferin-6-O amino acid, D-luciferin-4-O-amino acid, D-luciferin-6-O-methyl ether, D-luciferin-6-O-phosphate, D-luciferin-6-O-sulfate and D-luciferin-6-O-α-D-glycopyranoside.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein said second enzyme is selected from the group consisting of β-glycosidase, a peptidase, a protease, cytochrome P450, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, aryl sulfatase, α-glycosidase and kinase. 